The Iceland international football team will not appear on football game FIFA 17 due to a cash dispute between the country’s football association and FIFA developers, Electronic Arts, according to the BBC.
KSI, the Iceland Football Association, have said that EA’s financial offer of 1727700.00 Icelandic Krone, which equates to 15,000 US Dollars or £11,000 for the side to be used in the game was below their expectations.
Iceland, who are currently ranked the 27th best national side in the FIFA World Rankings, said they made a counter offer to EA but it was declined.
Geir Thorsteinsson, the president of the KSI, said: “They are the ones buying these rights and they almost want it for free.”
“The performance at the Euros show that we are quite a good team and many would like to play with our team. It’s sad for the players – but the criticism should be towards EA Sports.”
He continued:
“I really feel if we are giving away rights, or offering rights, it has to be proper negotiations and fair fees.”
“I didn’t feel that this was done in a fair and open manner.”
The fee teams receive from EA for their inclusion in the game covers the use of trade marks and image rights, so official kits and badges can be used.
The Iceland national side were somewhat of a fairy tale success story this June, as they entered their first ever major international tournament and thought valiantly, before finally bowing out after a 5-2 quarter-final defeat to host nation France.
Despite a disappointing end, Iceland managed to capture the imagination of all supporter during the tournament, as they showed no fear in the face of apparently stronger opposition.
The nation which only has a population of 330 thousand took nearly 10% of the country over to France to see them finish second in their group, finishing above eventual winners Portugal and knock out the embarrassing England in the last 16.
They’re efforts have even started the world wide phenomena known as the “Iceland”, or “Viking clap”.
There are 47 national sides in FIFA 17, with only two ranked higher than them not appearing in the game: Costa Rica and Bosnia & Herzegovina.
